Condensing apparatus



May 3 1927. 1,526,850

C. E. LUCKE CONDENSING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 5. 1925 noentoz 35%@ www Patented May.3, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,626,850 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. LUCIE, F NEW YORK, N. Y., AASSIGNOB, TOWOBTHINGTON PUMP AND MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

CONDENSING APPARATUS.

Application led August 5, 192225.v Serial No. 48,240.

This invention relates to improvements, in steam condensers, the especial ob]ect of the invention being to provide a construction of high vacuum surface condenser for r large sizes, in which the maximum condensation of steam per unit of tube surface shall be secured.

In carrying out the invention, I aim to minimize the pressure drop between the -l0 tubes by a short ath and by causlng the steam to sweep all the tube surfaces substantially equally, and present to the inycoming steam a large percentage of the total condensing surface, so as to secure the maximum of condensing activity.

I aim, also, to provide a construction which may be readily applied to condensers of .different sizes and secure the desired small tube area and high efficiency regardless of the size of the condenser. v

In attaining these objects, the condenser tubes are disposed in a number of shallow banks, the number of such banks depending upon the amount of steam to be condensed. On the outlet side of each of these banks is arranged a plate closing the outlet side of the bank and separated from the bank throughout-- a. portion of its length, and preferably substantially throughout the length of the bank, to leave an air chamber connecting. with the air oil'take. Separate air oiftakes may be used for each of the air chambers, or a. single air` offtake connecting with a plurality of all of the air chambers, according to the size of the condenser. In the preferred form, these tube banks `will be made substantially rectangular in form, with the inlet side of the bank opposite the air chamber open for admission of exhaust steam, and the other two sides of the tube bank closed by plates or other suitable 'means so as to compel all the exhaust steam to pass from the inlet .face of the bank to the opposite or air chamber face of the bank. The flow resistance Cil through each bank is uniform throughoutA side to the exit side, spaced more closely on the'exit side, it bemg necessary only that the flow resistance from the inlet to the outlet -side should be the same throughout the length of the bank. Other means, however, may be employed for securing the uniform resistance to flow across the bank that is important for securing the result of uniform flow and maximum condensation from each of the tubes. This desired result `of uniform How and maximum condensation from each of the tubes may be secured by a thinner bank of tubes closely spaced or a thicker bank of' tubes more widely spaced. The tube banks are preferably arranged so as to provide for the` free admission of exhaust steam to the lower part of the condenser for heating the falling condensate and hot-well, so that the condensate may be delivered at a temperature as near the temperature of the exhaust steam .as possible, this result also being aided by the efficient separation and taking olf of the air separated out from the steam by condensation, so that this air does not increase the partial air pressure in the or the tubes may be hot-well and lower the temperature of the;

condensate.

For a full understanding of the invention, there are shown in lthe accompanying drawings forming a part of this specifica'- tion forms of condensers embodying my invention in preferred forms, and these constructions will now bedescribed in detail and' the features forming the invention then be specifically pointed out in the claims. In the drawings- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view showing a simple form of condenser embodyig my invention in a preferred form, with a. separate air offtake for each tube bank; a 4 Figure 1a is a fragmentary side elevation of a condenser of the typel illustrated in Figure 1.

Figures 2 and 3 are similar views showing tube banks similar to those of Fig. 1,

but arranged in two series for large con-k densers of different forms;

Figure 4 is a similar/view of a circular condenser embodylng the broader features of my invention, with a common air oftake for all the tube banks;

Figures 5 and 6 show modified and preferred forms of condensers with tube banks similar to those of Fig. 4, but with provision for free admission of steam' to the lower part of the condenser and hot-Well, and with the air offtake enclosed by the tube banks.

Referringto the drawings, A is the condenser shell, B the steam inlet, C the hotwell, and D the tube banks. These tube banks D, as shown in Fig. l, are shallow continuous banks of tubes extending through the length of the condensing space, preferably of uniform depth, in which case the spacing of the tubes will preferably be uniform throughout the length of the bank so as to secure uniform flow resistance throughout the bank, and all of the banks have the same flow resistance. Each of these tube banks D has on its outlet side an 'air charnber l with which' connects the air offtake 2 consisting of the usual air olitake pipe extending through the condenser head and connecting outside the condenser `with the usual air ejector or vacuum pump of any form. Preferably and as shown, these air chambers are formed by plates aseparated from the outer face of the bank, and the plates a preferably join the outlet faces yof the tube banks at one end of the latter and are inclined away from the tube banks toward the air offtakes, so that the air chambers l gradually increase in size as the .section of the tube banks from which they receive the air increases, thus aiding in reducing the necessary size of the construction. Preferably and as shown, the opposite sides of the tube banks D are closed by plates 3, 4 so that all of the exhaust steam enters the tube bank on a single inlet face, thus avoiding a shortcircuiting of the steam and assuring the utilization of the full tube surface by the passage of all the Isteam through the same tube bank depth. The tube banks D are shown as mounted one above the other, and inclined to each other,

so as to provide gradually decreasing steam spaces l between each two successive tube banks and providing for the draining oft' of the condensate by the inclined air chamber. plates a upon each of which the condensate falls from the tube bark above it. The tube banks are arranged centrally of the condenser so as to leave steam spaces 11 on opposite sides ofthe tube banks for the admission of exhaust steam to the lower part of the condenser to heat the falling condensate and hot-well. v

The construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3 are the same as shown in Fig. l, except that .they are adapted for larger condensers and employ two tube banks similar to those of Fig. l, arranged on opposite sides of a centra steam space 12, through which the steam passes to the tube banks and the lower part of the condenser and hot'well.

The construction shown in Fig.- 3 provides a very compact construction of condenser, with large tube surface and high efficiency.

tions or tube banksD of the belt E are closed T and air chambers 5 on the outer face of the tube banks are formed by the plates b in the same manner asin Fig. 1, but these air chamber-s '5 open to a common air olftake '.7 on one side of the condenser.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the tube banks D and the arrangement of plates b and air chambers 5 and the. air offtake 7 are substantially the same as in Fig. 4, except that the upper and lower tube bank-s join the condenser shell on the same side of the hot-well C, so as to leave the steam space l2 at one side of the condenser, for the free passage of steam to the underside of the lowest tube bank and to the space below the tube banks and hot-well. At the top of Fig. the air outlet 7 is enclosed by a folded tube bank having its air passage between the tube folds. Any suitable condensate drains may be provided in the constructions shown in Figures 4 to 6.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in many other constructions diiering in form and arrangement from those shown, and that the invention is not to be limited to the constructions illustrated, but includes all other constructions within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a surface condenser, a plurality of tube banks of substantially uniform flow resistance, each having on theI outlet face a plate extending over the tub-e bank and separated from the bank to form an air chamber extending over the outlet face of the bank and connected to an air offtake.

2. In a surface condenser, a plurality of tube banks of substantially uniform flow resistance, each having on the outlet face a plate extending over the tube bank and separated from the bank to form an air chamber extending over the outlet face of the bank and connected to an air offtake and having plates closing the sides of the bank between t-he inlet and outlet faces.

3. In a surface condenser, a plurality of tube banks of substantially uniform flow resistance, each having on the outlet face an air chamber extending over the outlet face of the tube bank and a separate air offtake for each of said air chambers.

4. In a surface condenser, a plurality of tube banks of substantially uniform flow resistance, each having on the outlet face a plate extending over the tube bank and separated from the bank to form an air chamber extending'over the outlet face of the bank, and a separate air oiftake for each of said air chambers, said plates being inclined away from the tube bank to form air chambers gradually increasing in depth toward the air o'take.

5. In a surface condenser, a plurality of tube banks of substantiall uniform low resistance, each having on t e outlet face a plate extending over the tube bank and separated from the bank to form an air chamber connected to an air olftake, said banks being arranged in vertical series with the plates on the upper side.

6. In a surface condenser, a plurality of tube banks of substantially uniform How resistance, each having on the outlet face a plate extending over the tube bank and separated from the bank to form an air chamber connected to an air oitake and having plates closing the sides of the bank between the inlet and outlet faces, said tube banks being arranged in vertical series with the plates on the upper side.

7. VIn la surface condenser, a plurality of tube banks of substantially uniform flow resistance, each having on the outlet face a plate extending over the tube bank and separated from the bank to form an air chamber connected to an air olftake, said banks being arranged in vertical series with the plates on the upper side and inclined to drain off the condensate falling from the upper banks.

8. In a surface condenser, a plurality of tube banks of substantially uniform iow resistance, each having on the outlet face a plate extending over the tube bank and separated from the bank to form an air chamber connected to an air oltake, said banks being arranged in vertical series with the plates on the upper side and arrangedto provide space within the condenser for the passage of steam to the lower part of the condenser.

chamber extendin the tube bank an vtake. l

12. A surface condenser having its tubes 9. In a surface condenser, a plurality of tube banks of substantially uniform flow resistance, each having on the outlet face a -the casing to orm a space for the passage of Steam to the lower part of the condenser between the tube bank and casing.

10. In a surface condenser, a plurality of tube banks of substantially uniform flow resistance, each having on the outlet face a plate extending over the tube bank and separated from the bank .to form an air chamber connected to an air offtake, said banks being arranged in vertical series with the plates on the upper side and separated from the casing at each side of the condenser to form spaces for the passage of steam to the lower part of the condenser between the tube bank and casing.

11. A surface condenser having its tubes arranged in a plurality of substantially rectangular banks of uniform How resistance, each bank having on its outlet face au air over the outlet face of connected to an air offarranved in a plurality of substantially rectanguar banks of uniform flow resistance, each bank having on its outlet face an air chamber extending over the outlet face of' the tube bank and separate air olftakes for each of said air chambers. f

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES E. LUCKE. 

